white water rafting medellin
Guatapé Day Trips: Adventure Bundles From Medellín
We invented the adventure bundle format from Medellín. We started running bundled adventure tours in 2015, pairing paragliding with ATV and mountain biking, and then added Guatapé to the format in early 2017. Every Guatapé day trip we run pairs the Rock of El Peñol and the town with a real adventure activity: paragliding, rafting, canyoning, ATV, jet ski, wakeboarding, or a local helicopter ride.
These are private tours. Pickup at 7 AM. We respond to every inquiry promptly in fluent, culturally-aware English. You’ll be speaking to real humans, not chatbots.
Why We Don’t Offer Standalone Guatapé
The standard Guatapé day looks like this: 7 AM pickup, 1 hour 50 minute drive, climb the Rock, visit the town, lunch, and then three or four hours of dead time before the drive back to Medellín. Most operators fill that gap with a boat ride on the reservoir, but it’s still a 2-3 hour experience stretched thin.
We don’t run that day because we don’t think it’s worth your money.
In 2015 we started running paragliding tours from Medellín, then bundled paragliding with ATV and mountain biking — the first operator in Medellín to combine adventure activities into a single private day. By early 2017 we’d added Guatapé to the format, pairing the Rock and the town with paragliding off the Andes, rafting class III/IV rapids, canyoning down jungle waterfalls, ATVing through coffee country.
The most extreme bundle we ever invented was the Guatapé Heli Jump tour. We took people up in a helicopter over the Guatapé reservoir and jumped them out into the water. No other operator in Colombia had ever done it, and none has since. The civil aviation authority caught wind, freaked out, and shut the program down for regulatory reasons. But for several years we were the only company in the country offering it.
Our first TripAdvisor review dates to March 2015. Our first review specifically mentioning a Guatapé bundle dates to January 2017. The first competitor to copy our bundle format started operating in mid-2018, with their first Guatapé bundle review appearing in February 2019.
The bundle format has been copied widely since 2018. Most operators offering Guatapé bundles in Medellín now run variations of what we built. We’ve been refining the logistics for over a decade.
What’s in Every Guatapé Day Trip
Every bundle includes the same core Guatapé experience. The activity component is what changes.
The Guatapé portion:
- 7 AM pickup from your hotel in El Poblado, Laureles, or Envigado (other neighborhoods on request, subject to approval)
- 1 hour 50 minute drive to Guatapé
- The Rock of El Peñol — a 70-million-year-old granite monolith with a 740-step climb to a 360° viewing platform at the summit. Climbing is optional — there are restaurants and waiting areas at the base for travelers who’d rather not make the climb.
- The town of Guatapé — known for its colorful zócalos, the painted 3D reliefs that decorate the lower half of every house facade, depicting local trades, animals, and cultural symbols.
- Traditional Colombian lunch — menú del día style, with your choice of protein (beef, pork, grilled chicken, sausage, chicharrón, or ground beef) plus rice, plantain, fried egg, and salad. Vegetarian and vegan options available.
Then on to the adventure activity — paragliding, rafting, canyoning, ATV, jet ski, wakeboarding, horseback ride, or local 8-minute helicopter ride. Activity location is typically about an hour’s drive from Guatapé (canyoning is closer).
Return to Medellín. Return time depends on the bundle — see each option below.
Single-Activity Bundles
These are full-day private tours pairing Guatapé with one adventure activity.
Guatapé / Paragliding
Tandem paragliding flight off the Andes mountains with certified instructors. Flight lasts 15-20 minutes. Return to Medellín approximately 4 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $230 |
| 3 persons | $200 |
| 4 persons | $185 |
| 5 persons | $180 |
| 6 persons | $175 |
Learn more about our paragliding tours
Guatapé / Rafting
White-water rafting on the Calderas river, class III/IV rapids with certified guides. Wet suits and full gear provided. Return to Medellín approximately 7 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $325 |
| 3 persons | $275 |
| 4 persons | $260 |
| 5 persons | $255 |
| 6 persons | $235 |
Learn more about our white water rafting tours
Guatapé / Canyoning
Canyoning at one of three jungle waterfall locations near Guatapé. Rappels, jumps, and slides through river canyons. Return to Medellín approximately 4 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $290 |
| 3 persons | $220 |
| 4 persons | $210 |
| 5 persons | $200 |
| 6 persons | $195 |
Learn more about our canyoning tours
Guatapé / ATV
2-hour ATV ride through coffee country and mountain trails. No prior experience required. Return to Medellín approximately 5 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $265 |
| 3 persons | $225 |
| 4 persons | $215 |
| 5 persons | $205 |
| 6 persons | $199 |
Learn more about our off-road ATV tours
Guatapé / Jet Ski
1-hour jet ski session on the Guatapé reservoir. Solo or shared options. Return to Medellín approximately 6 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $250 |
| 3 persons | $220 |
| 4 persons | $205 |
| 5 persons | $195 |
| 6 persons | $190 |
Guatapé / Horseback
30-minute Gypsy Vanner, Friesian, & Baroque Pinto breeds. Return to Medellín approximately 5 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $250 |
| 3 persons | $220 |
| 4 persons | $205 |
| 5 persons | $195 |
| 6 persons | $190 |
Guatapé / 8-Minute Helicopter Ride
Brief helicopter ride directly over the Guatapé reservoir and Rock . Return to Medellín approximately 5 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $335 |
| 3 persons | $295 |
| 4 persons | $290 |
| 5 persons | $285 |
| 6 persons | $280 |
We reserve the right to change our prices at any time without prior notice. Prices are subject to change based on market conditions, currency exchange rates, and other factors. Please check back regularly for the most current pricing information.
Multi-Activity Bundles
For travelers who want maximum adventure in one day. These are long days — typically 12+ hours total — but they pack two adventure activities plus the full Guatapé experience.
Guatapé / Paragliding / Rafting
Tandem paragliding flight plus class III/IV rafting. Return to Medellín approximately 7 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $360 |
| 3 persons | $330 |
| 4 persons | $310 |
| 5 persons | $305 |
| 6 persons | $300 |
Rafting details
Paragliding details
Guatapé / Paragliding / Canyoning
Tandem paragliding flight plus jungle canyoning. Return to Medellín approximately 5 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $280 |
| 3 persons | $250 |
| 4 persons | $245 |
| 5 persons | $235 |
| 6 persons | $230 |
Paragliding details
Canyoning details
Guatapé / Paragliding / ATV
Tandem paragliding flight plus 2-hour ATV ride. Return to Medellín approximately 6 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $345 |
| 3 persons | $305 |
| 4 persons | $295 |
| 5 persons | $290 |
| 6 persons | $280 |
Paragliding details
ATV details
Guatapé / Paragliding / Jet Ski
Tandem paragliding flight plus 1-hour jet ski session. Return to Medellín approximately 6 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $315 |
| 3 persons | $295 |
| 4 persons | $290 |
| 5 persons | $280 |
| 6 persons | $270 |
Paragliding details
Guatapé / Rafting / ATV
For travelers who want to feel it the next morning. Return to Medellín approximately 7 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $395 |
| 3 persons | $370 |
| 4 persons | $360 |
| 5 persons | $355 |
| 6 persons | $340 |
Guatapé / Jet Ski/ ATV
1-hour jet ski plus 2-hour ATV ride. Return to Medellín approximately 6 PM.
| Group size | Price per person USD |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $345 |
| 3 persons | $320 |
| 4 persons | $310 |
| 5 persons | $310 |
| 6 persons | $305 |
ATV details
What’s Included in All Bundles
- Private tour — only you and your party, no shared groups
- Doorstep transportation in private SUV with English-speaking driver
- Communications in fluent, culturally-aware English with real humans (not chatbots) by email or WhatsApp
- Entry fees to the Rock of El Peñol
- Traditional Colombian lunch in Guatapé
- All adventure activity costs (instruction, gear, equipment, certified guides)
- GoPro photos and videos for paragliding and rafting
- Risk insurance
Not included:
- Tips for guides (optional, appreciated)
- Personal souvenirs
About the Rock of El Peñol
The Rock of El Peñol is a 70-million-year-old granite monolith that juts 722 feet straight up from the surrounding landscape. It was first climbed publicly on July 16, 1954 by Luis Eduardo Villegas López, whose family has owned and operated it as a tourist attraction ever since.
The 740 steps to the summit zigzag up a fissure cut into the rock.
Climbing is optional, those who want to just enjoy the view of the Rock without climbing it can wait at the restaurants and shops at the base. The view from the top is the standard Guatapé postcard view: the reservoir spreading out below in every direction, dotted with tiny islands.
Frequently Asked Questions
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